A former West Peoria resident and admitted al-Qaida agent, Ali al-Marri, was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for conspiring to help a foreign terrorist organization.

Al-Marri had faced a maximum sentence of 15 years, but U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm imposed a shorter sentence of eight years and four months Thursday.

Before sentencing Ali al–Marri, Judge Michael Mihm spoke of the treatment al–Marri received for 71–months in a military brig. He was isolated, slept on a metal bed without mattress or pillow and was the subject of what his lawyers claimed were harsh interrogations.

For that reason Judge Mihm sentenced al–Marri to almost half the 15–years federal prosecutors had asked for.

"We are pleased the sentence took into account, even if only slightly, for the harsh conditions of that custody. And the truth is that the end is now in sight for Mr. Al–Marri. It will not be too much longer before he can finally go home and rejoin his family," said Larry Lustberg, Ali al-Marri attorney.

"Al–Marri admitted what he was and we have a sentencing hearing today and one of the finds that the judge made is that Mr. Al–Marri certainly intended to facilitate terrorism here in the United States and that he continues to be a risk," said Jeffrey Lang, Acting U.S. Attorney.

In sentencing al–Marri, Judge Mihm told him "I do not believe you regret what you did and I believe you would do it again." Mihm also said he believe that if al–Marri returned home he was likely to renew his association with al–Qaida.

Al-Marri was a Bradley University student when he was arrested in 2001. Al-Marri pleaded guilty in May to conspiring to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.

The U.S. Justice Department issued this statement through its spokesman Dean Boyd: "This administration is committed to bringing terrorists to justice for their crimes. Al-Marri, who has been in U.S. custody since December 2001, was dispatched by the highest levels of al-Qaeda to carry out its terrorist objectives in America. We thank everyone that made this prosecution possible, including the many agents, analysts, prosecutors, and support personnel that worked tirelessly to bring this man to justice."

Al-Marri's attorneys have 10-days to file an appeal.